title: Examining the impact of obesity on individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder affecting multiple body systems. The most commonly used definition of CFS is 6 or more months of fatigue and the presence of at least four of eight minor symptoms. In addition, many health and psychological conditions, including severe obesity-body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m(2) or greater-exclude individuals from a diagnosis of CFS. Obesity has been correlated with fatigue, sleep problems, and less satisfaction with general health, functioning, and vitality. The current study investigated weight trends over time in a community-based sample of individuals with CFS and healthy controls. The study further investigated the impact of comorbid weight issues on several health and disability outcomes in a subset of overweight individuals. Overweight and obese individuals with CFS demonstrated poorer functioning than controls who were similarly weighted. One participant was excluded because she had gained weight at a monitoring visit and her BMI was greater than 40 kg/m(2). The implications of these findings for health care workers are discussed.
authors.affiliation: DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA. S.Flore10@DePaul.Edu
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adeoye
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jason
authors.forename: Meredyth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain